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Residenza Il Carmine
http://www.residenzailcarmine.com/
Apartments in the Santo Spirito area of Florence.
This review was collected on the Slow Europe website and has been copied here.
Reviewed by: Pokey @PokeyMindy
Reviewed on: June 7, 2009
Date of Stay: spring 2009
Vacation Rental Name: Domus Apartment
Residenza Il Carmine is located in the Oltrarno, just across the Ponte alla Carraia. Only a 10-15 minute walk to Piazza Signoria/Uffizi. 2 bridges to the west of the Ponte Vecchio. Quiet street just off of Via Santa Monaca. A great location away from the touristy area, more of a neighborhood feel and experience.
You can walk to anything you need! Magi Market is a block away, great bakeries, bars for morning caffe and cornetto, internet points, great restaurants just minutes away. Did I mention it's a great location?
The building has been around for hundreds of years. I think Filippo Lippi lived next door or one of the Lippi's. I would imagine Brunelleschi himself walked along this street at one time or another! All of their apartments are in excellent shape. I've also stayed in Mirra apartment.
I think there are 5 other apartments, maybe 6. When you walk into the building off of the street you enter a foyer which has a staircase for other tenants who live in the building, along with mailboxes. You enter another door which leads you to a long hallway and the Domus apartment door is on the left. Directly at the end of that hallway is a beautiful glass door which leads you into the garden and garden apartments.
The garden is filled with roses, lilacs, calla lilies, herbs; I don't know all the names, but it's lovely. This was the first time I was there during "primavera" and I was delighted with all of the foliage and blossoms. There are a few tables and chairs to sit outside for morning coffee or reading in the afternoon. Binoculars are good to have as there are a lot of birds who fly around the Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine which you can see from the garden. Listening to the bells of the church ringing is music to my ears!!
The furniture is in great shape. Domus apartment has a gorgeous dining area with large table and 6 chairs. There is plenty of storage (with extra blankets and pillows) in the huge china cabinet/hutch. Living room has sofa bed, day bed, chairs, TV, gorgeous bookcase, a small room off to the side has a safe, iron and ironing board.
Comfy beds and day bed. I did not sleep on the sleeper sofa. The main bedroom has 2 twin beds which can be put together for a double/queen. Large armoire with plenty of storage and coat hangars, also a large bureau with 3 or 4 drawers. Large bathroom near the front entrance with shower stall, no bath tub. Small bathroom in the bedroom. Spotlessly clean and great water pressure. Daily towel change. The towels aren't terry cloth, more of a plain cotton feel to them. They are absorbent, but not the same as terry cloth. The bedroom has large windows which face the garden. There are lovely lace curtains which do offer privacy but if you want total darkness you can close the big shutters from the outside. (You may be able to shut these from the inside but I don't know for sure).
In the kitchen, there are plenty of dishes, pots and pans, french coffee press and moka Italian stovetop percolator. The apartment has a stove and small refrigerator, no oven. There is a microwave. I had everything I needed. The door off the kitchen leads you to the garden.
I love this place so much! The Li Pira family, including Maria, their affectionate English bulldog are the nicest people ever! Miriam, Emilio and Caterina are so helpful and kind. Their English is very good and they are a joy to deal with. They will help you in any way they can. This is the 4th time I've stayed here and I wouldn't stay anywhere else when visiting Florence. (I've also stayed in Mirra apartment, in 2004 and 2005 which I also enjoyed very much).
http://www.residenzailcarmine.com/
Apartments in the Santo Spirito area of Florence.
This review was collected on the Slow Europe website and has been copied here.
Reviewed by: Pokey @PokeyMindy
Reviewed on: June 7, 2009
Date of Stay: spring 2009
Vacation Rental Name: Domus Apartment
Residenza Il Carmine is located in the Oltrarno, just across the Ponte alla Carraia. Only a 10-15 minute walk to Piazza Signoria/Uffizi. 2 bridges to the west of the Ponte Vecchio. Quiet street just off of Via Santa Monaca. A great location away from the touristy area, more of a neighborhood feel and experience.
You can walk to anything you need! Magi Market is a block away, great bakeries, bars for morning caffe and cornetto, internet points, great restaurants just minutes away. Did I mention it's a great location?
The building has been around for hundreds of years. I think Filippo Lippi lived next door or one of the Lippi's. I would imagine Brunelleschi himself walked along this street at one time or another! All of their apartments are in excellent shape. I've also stayed in Mirra apartment.
I think there are 5 other apartments, maybe 6. When you walk into the building off of the street you enter a foyer which has a staircase for other tenants who live in the building, along with mailboxes. You enter another door which leads you to a long hallway and the Domus apartment door is on the left. Directly at the end of that hallway is a beautiful glass door which leads you into the garden and garden apartments.
The garden is filled with roses, lilacs, calla lilies, herbs; I don't know all the names, but it's lovely. This was the first time I was there during "primavera" and I was delighted with all of the foliage and blossoms. There are a few tables and chairs to sit outside for morning coffee or reading in the afternoon. Binoculars are good to have as there are a lot of birds who fly around the Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine which you can see from the garden. Listening to the bells of the church ringing is music to my ears!!
The furniture is in great shape. Domus apartment has a gorgeous dining area with large table and 6 chairs. There is plenty of storage (with extra blankets and pillows) in the huge china cabinet/hutch. Living room has sofa bed, day bed, chairs, TV, gorgeous bookcase, a small room off to the side has a safe, iron and ironing board.
Comfy beds and day bed. I did not sleep on the sleeper sofa. The main bedroom has 2 twin beds which can be put together for a double/queen. Large armoire with plenty of storage and coat hangars, also a large bureau with 3 or 4 drawers. Large bathroom near the front entrance with shower stall, no bath tub. Small bathroom in the bedroom. Spotlessly clean and great water pressure. Daily towel change. The towels aren't terry cloth, more of a plain cotton feel to them. They are absorbent, but not the same as terry cloth. The bedroom has large windows which face the garden. There are lovely lace curtains which do offer privacy but if you want total darkness you can close the big shutters from the outside. (You may be able to shut these from the inside but I don't know for sure).
In the kitchen, there are plenty of dishes, pots and pans, french coffee press and moka Italian stovetop percolator. The apartment has a stove and small refrigerator, no oven. There is a microwave. I had everything I needed. The door off the kitchen leads you to the garden.
I love this place so much! The Li Pira family, including Maria, their affectionate English bulldog are the nicest people ever! Miriam, Emilio and Caterina are so helpful and kind. Their English is very good and they are a joy to deal with. They will help you in any way they can. This is the 4th time I've stayed here and I wouldn't stay anywhere else when visiting Florence. (I've also stayed in Mirra apartment, in 2004 and 2005 which I also enjoyed very much).